JP5933132B2 - Electrical plug and energy transmission configuration - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a connection unit that can be coupled to a power transmission line for transmission of electrical energy, and at least one electrical connection pin having an insertion portion and a coupling portion, and the coupling portion is electrically coupled to the connection unit. The plug-in relates to an electrical plug having the at least one electrical connection pin configured to establish a releasable plug-in connection with the assigned socket contact.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to an energy transmission configuration comprising an electrical plug according to the form mentioned at the beginning and a power transmission line electrically coupled to a connection unit of the electrical plug.

  In the field of vehicle drive technology, it is generally known to use electric machines as the sole drive or with other types of prime movers (hybrid drives). In such an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the electric machine is typically used as a prime mover that is supplied with electric energy by an electric energy store such as a storage battery. The electric energy storage of an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle needs to be connected to an electric energy supply network periodically according to the state of charge in order to charge the energy storage with electric energy.

  In order to transmit electrical energy from the charging station to the vehicle, for example, an inductively coupled wireless energy transmission system or cable can be utilized. When using the cable, it is particularly convenient for the user if the electric vehicle or the hybrid vehicle can be connected to each arbitrary standard socket to charge the traction battery. However, in the case of such a standard socket, there is no special fixing device that prevents the charging cable from being easily disconnected. As a result, the charging cable may be disconnected in a state where the full load (about 3.6 kW) in the charging process is applied. This can lead to arcing between the plug and socket of the charging cable. As a result, the plug and socket can be damaged. Furthermore, there is a risk that the user will be burned.

  When standard-compliant EVSE equipment (electric vehicle supply cable) is used with a corresponding plug-in connector, it is loaded by a mechanical push button or an electromechanical interlock device. The charging cable is prevented from being detached in the state where For example, at the same time as the corresponding mechanical push button is pressed, a switch is activated that interrupts energy transmission before the charging cable is disconnected. When an electromechanical interlock device is used, it will only release the plug if the charging process is completed correctly or if the charging process is interrupted by user intervention (eg switch activation). Is done.

  However, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle can be charged only with a special EVSE facility, and cannot be charged with each arbitrary standard socket. Therefore, the comfort of operation of such a vehicle is very limited.

  Accordingly, the present invention is a connection unit that can be coupled to a power transmission line for transmission of electrical energy, and at least one electrical connection pin having an insertion portion and a coupling portion, the coupling portion being electrically connected to the connection unit. The at least one electrical connection pin coupled and wherein the plug is configured to establish a reversible plug connection with the assigned socket contact to electrically couple the connection pin and the socket contact; A detection unit configured to detect a traction force applied to the connection pin and / or a movement of the connection pin relative to the socket contact and provide a stop signal for interrupting energy transmission Provide a plug.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides an electrical plug according to the present invention, a transmission line electrically coupled to the connection unit of the electrical plug, a detection unit of the electrical plug, and a stop signal of the detection unit and / or An energy transmission configuration is provided that includes a control unit configured to control transmission of energy over a transmission line based on an actuation signal.

  With the detection unit of the electrical plug, it is possible to detect the disconnection of the plug-in connection in a timely manner and as a result provide a stop signal for interrupting energy transmission. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of arc discharge is prevented. Furthermore, there is no risk of burns for the user. Furthermore, damage to the electrical plug and the assigned socket contact is avoided.

  The operation of the electrical plug is very simple because it is not necessary to press a special mechanical button to break the plug-in connection. Furthermore, it is possible to unplug from the socket contacts at any time. It is not always necessary to wait for the charging process to finish correctly, for example, before the plug is removed from the socket contact.

  Additionally, the electrical plug according to the present invention offers the possibility of using standard sockets as socket contacts. Thus, each standard socket can be used for charging an electric vehicle. This significantly improves the usability of the electric vehicle / hybrid vehicle.

  It is particularly advantageous if the detection unit is configured to provide a stop signal when the traction force exceeds a threshold value for force and / or the movement exceeds a threshold value for movement.

  By this measure, the cancellation of the plug-in connection is reliably detected. A slight traction on the plug or a small movement / vibration of the plug will not cause the energy transfer to stop. Thereby, it is possible to improve the stability of energy transmission.

  In yet another embodiment, the threshold is set such that the plug-in connection with the assigned socket contact persists at least until the threshold is reached.

  This realizes that the electrical contact between the plug and the socket contact is broken only when the energy transmission has already been interrupted. With this measure, arcing can no longer occur. As a result, there is no risk of user burns or unexpectedly flammable material ignition. When the electrical plug is removed, the electrical plug and the assigned socket contact are prevented from being damaged.

  According to yet another embodiment, the detection unit comprises a force measuring element, which is mechanically coupled with the connection pin and between the connection pin and the socket contact when the plug-in connection is broken. The traction force is configured to be detected based on the force between.

  In the present embodiment, the traction force is directly determined by the socket contact. If the tractive force exceeds a force threshold, the disconnection is detected and a stop signal is generated to stop energy transmission.

  In yet another embodiment, the force measuring element is configured to detect a compressive force between the connection pin and the socket contact when the plug connection is established, and the threshold for the force is when the plug connection is established. The value of the compression force detected in

  This measure makes it very easy to determine the force threshold by measuring the compression force required to establish the plug-in connection. If the traction force exceeds the threshold value for the force thus defined, the cancellation of the plug connection can be estimated very reliably.

  According to yet another embodiment, the detection unit has a slidable element that is kept in the initial position by the preload, and from the initial position when the traction force exceeds the preload. In this case, the preload is a force threshold.

  In this embodiment, the slidable element is kept in the initial position until the traction force exceeds a force threshold. When the force threshold is exceeded, the slidable element moves from its initial position and the disconnection of the plug connection is detected. As a result, energy transmission can be interrupted by the stop signal in a timely manner before the electrical contact between the plug and the socket contact is broken.

  In yet another embodiment, the detection unit has a spring element for providing a preload.

  The spring element provides the preload very simply and inexpensively.

  In yet another embodiment, the detection unit has a sliding mechanism that is slidable based on the movement of the connection pin, and the detection unit slides by a threshold value relating to the movement of the sliding mechanism relative to the initial position. If so, it is configured to provide a stop signal.

  In this embodiment, as soon as the sliding mechanism is slid relative to the initial position by the threshold value relating to movement, that is, by a predetermined interval, the cancellation of the plug-in connection is detected. The threshold for movement is advantageously chosen so that the plug is still in electrical connection with the socket contact even in this position after sliding. Thus, damage to the plug or socket contact due to arcing that may occur is avoided.

  According to yet another embodiment, the detection unit is configured to provide an activation signal for initiating energy transfer when the initial position of the sliding mechanism is set.

  The sliding mechanism makes it very easy to detect whether the plug is completely contained in the socket contact. When the sliding mechanism is in the initial position, the establishment of the plug-in connection is detected and an activation signal is generated to initiate energy transfer.

  In yet another embodiment, the detection unit has a further separate spring element, which is further with respect to the sliding mechanism for sliding the sliding mechanism in response to the movement of the connecting pin. Configured to apply force.

  By this measure, the sliding mechanism is slid (relative to the socket contact) in synchronism with the movement of the connecting pin over at least a predetermined region. Thereby, the cancellation / establishment of the plug-in connection can be reliably detected.

  In yet another embodiment, the sliding mechanism has a sleeve arranged coaxially with the connecting pin.

  This is a simple and inexpensive realization of the sliding mechanism.

  In yet another embodiment, the detection unit is configured to provide a stop signal and / or an activation signal to a control unit that controls energy transfer.

  A control unit coupled to the detection unit can stop or start the energy transfer using the provided stop / actuation signal. As the control unit, for example, an existing charging device of an electric vehicle can be used. Alternatively, another controller configured as part of the energy transmission configuration (eg, as part of the charging cable) may be provided.

  In one embodiment of the energy transfer configuration, the transmission line is further coupled to an electrically driveable vehicle traction battery, and the control unit is configured to interrupt the charging process of the traction battery based on the stop signal.

  This is a preferred embodiment of the energy transmission configuration according to the present invention. In doing so, the transmission line is preferably coupled to the traction battery by a suitable charging device. Thereby, the electrically driven vehicle can be charged by each arbitrary standard socket. No special unlock / interlock mechanism is required. The electrical plug is always separable from the assigned socket contact, in which case there is no risk of arcing.

  The features, characteristics and advantages of the electrical plug according to the present invention can be applied or applied correspondingly to the energy transmission configuration according to the present invention.

1 schematically illustrates an electrically driven vehicle that can be coupled to a charging station by means of an energy transfer configuration. Figure 2 shows a schematic detailed view of an energy transmission configuration with an electrical plug. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical plug according to the present embodiment. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical plug according to the present embodiment. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical plug according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an electric vehicle, which is generally designated by reference numeral 10. In an alternative embodiment, the vehicle 10 may be a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The electric vehicle 10 typically has an electrical rotating magnetic field device not shown in detail in FIG. 1 that is used as a prime mover. Furthermore, the electric vehicle 10 includes a traction battery 12 that provides electric energy for driving the electric rotating field device. The traction battery 12 needs to be charged again after the electric vehicle 10 is driven for a specific time. For this purpose, the electric vehicle 10 is connected to a charging station 14, which itself is coupled to an electrical energy supply network 16. The charging station 14 has a socket contact 18, which corresponds to a standard socket in this example, and serves to connect the electric vehicle 10 to the charging station 14. In addition, the charging station 14 has an energy transmission unit 20 by which the socket contact 18 is coupled to the energy supply network 16.

  In order to charge the electric vehicle 10, the traction battery 12 is electrically connected to the charging station 14 by an energy transmission arrangement 22, ie in this example by a charging cable 22. The charging cable 22 has an electric plug 24 and a power transmission line 26 electrically coupled to the plug 24 at one end. The other end of the power transmission line 26 is electrically connected to the traction battery 12 of the electric vehicle 10 by a charging device 27. In order to establish electrical contact between the electric vehicle 10 and the energy supply network 16, a plug 24 is inserted into the socket contact 18.

  In order to terminate the charging process of the traction battery 12 (for example, because it is necessary to run on the electric vehicle 10), the plug 24 needs to be removed from the socket contact 18. In accordance with the present invention, the plug 24 detects early the removal of the plug connection between the electrical plug 24 and the socket contact 18 and provides a stop signal based on the detection, the plug 24 and the socket contact 18. Before the electrical connection between the traction battery 12 and the energy supply network 16 is interrupted. As a result, the occurrence of arc discharge between the plug 24 and the socket contact 18 can be avoided. Therefore, there is no risk of burn for the user of the charging cable 22. In addition, the plug 24 and socket contact 18 are protected from damage.

  For a more detailed explanation, a detailed view of the energy transmission arrangement 22 or the charging cable 22 is shown in FIG.

  The plug 24 has a plug housing 28, and two connection pins 30 a and 30 b (electric connection pins) are partially accommodated in the plug housing 28. The connection pin 30a has an insertion part 32a and a coupling part 34a, and the connection pin 30b has an insertion part 32b and a coupling part 34b. The plug-in portions 32 a and 32 b are configured to establish a releasable plug-in connection with the socket contact 18 in order to electrically couple the connection pins 30 a and 30 b and the socket contact 18. The coupling portions 34a and 34b are coupled to the connection unit 36, and the connection unit 36 electrically couples the connection pins 30a and 30b to the power transmission line 26 for transmission of electrical energy.

  In accordance with the present invention, the electrical plug 24 further includes a detection unit 38 that is configured to detect the traction force applied to the connection pin 30. Additionally or alternatively, the detection unit 38 may be configured to detect movement of the connection pin 30 relative to the socket contact 18.

  When the plug 24 is removed from the socket contact 18, a specific traction force must be applied to the plug 24. The detection unit 38 detects, for example, a force acting on the connection pin 30 and compares it with a threshold value related to the force. If the measured traction force exceeds a force threshold, the disconnection of the plug connection between the plug 24 and the socket contact 18 is detected. As a result, the detection unit 38 generates a stop signal and transmits it to the control unit 40. Based on the stop signal, the control unit 40 interrupts the energy transfer between the energy supply network 16 and the traction battery 12 before the electrical connection between the connection pin 30 and the socket contact 18 is broken. Therefore, arc discharge is prevented. In this embodiment, the control unit 40 is provided as a separate unit that forms part of the charging cable 22 together with the plug 24. In an alternative embodiment, a charging device already present in the electric vehicle 10 may be used to control energy transmission according to a stop signal.

  Furthermore, the possibility of using the detection unit 38 to detect the movement of the connection pin 30 relative to the socket contact 18 arises. If the plug-in connection between the electrical plug and the socket contact 18 is eliminated, the connection pin 30 must have been removed from the socket contact 18. When the detected movement of the connection pin 30 exceeds a predetermined threshold value related to movement (that is, a predetermined maximum movement section), the cancellation of the plug-in connection is detected and transmitted to the control unit 40.

  In that case, advantageously, the disconnection of the plug-in connection is detected before the electrical contact between the connection pin 30 and the socket contact 18 is broken, so that the energy between the traction battery 12 and the energy supply network 16 is detected. A threshold for force and a threshold for movement are set so that transmission can be stopped. However, in order to stabilize energy transmission, the threshold value needs to be selected so that the charging process of the traction battery 12 is not interrupted by a slight vibration of the plug 24.

  Furthermore, it is possible to check by means of the detection unit 38 whether the plug 24 is inserted in the socket contact 18 and thus the plug 24 is completely accommodated in the socket contact 18 at the end of the insertion process. For this purpose, the detection unit 38 detects the movement of the connection pin 30 relative to the socket contact 18. When the connection pin 30 reaches a specific position relative to the socket contact 18, the insertion of the plug 24 into the socket contact 18 is detected and an activation signal is generated to charge the traction battery 12. Is transferred to the control unit 40 to start.

  A controlled activation or deactivation of the energy transfer ensures the highest possible operational reliability of the charging cable 22.

  In the following FIGS. 3 to 5 various embodiments of the electrical plug 24 and in particular the detection unit 38 according to the invention are schematically shown. In the following figures, other components of the plug 24 are not shown in FIGS. 3-5 for clarity, as the various implementations of the detection unit 38 are focused.

  FIG. 3 shows a plug 24 with a socket housing 28 and a connection pin 30. In this embodiment, the detection unit 38 includes force measuring elements 42a and 42b mechanically coupled to the connection pins 30a and 30b, respectively. The force measuring element 42 can measure the force applied to the connection pin 30 when the plug-in connection is canceled / established. For example, when the plug 24 is removed from the socket contact 18, the force measuring element 42 measures the traction force applied to the connection pin 30. When the measured traction force exceeds a threshold value relating to a predetermined force, the cancellation of the plug-in connection is detected and a stop signal is transmitted to the control unit 40. In the present embodiment, the force threshold is advantageously determined such that the force measuring element 42 detects the compressive force when the plug-in connection is established. The detected compressive force is stored in the detection unit 38 as a threshold value relating to the force. In the present embodiment, a stop signal is transmitted to the control unit 40 when the traction force detected when the plug-in connection is canceled exceeds the compression force when the plug-in connection is established. At this time, it is not important whether the traction force is generated by directly unplugging or by pulling the transmission line 26.

  FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a plug 24 according to the present invention. The detection unit 38 has a slidable element 28 ', which in this example corresponds to the plug housing 28' or a part of the plug housing 28 '. This slidable element is slidably held with respect to the connection pin 30 as indicated by arrows 44a, 44b in FIG. The detection unit 38 further comprises spring elements 46a, 46b which are adapted to keep the slidable element 28 'in the initial position shown in FIG. Applying force against

  When the electrical plug 24 is removed from the socket contact 18, a traction force is applied to the socket housing 28 ′ or the slidable element 28 ′. If this traction force is the preload provided by the spring element, which in this example exceeds the preload, which corresponds to a force threshold, the slidable element 28 ' Moved right from position. This activates, for example, a switch of the detection unit 38 not shown in detail in FIG. 4 and this switch generates a stop signal. Thus, energy transmission via the transmission line 26 can be interrupted by the control unit 40 before the electrical connection between the connection pin 30 and the socket contact 18 is broken.

  FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of a plug 24 according to the present invention. The detection unit 38 includes sliding mechanisms 48a and 48b that are slidably held with respect to the connection pin 30 (see arrows 50a and 50b in FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the sliding mechanisms 48a and 48b are configured as sleeves 48a and 48b arranged coaxially with the connection pins 30a and 30b. Furthermore, the detection unit 38 has further further spring elements 52a, 52b, which are further supported by the plug housing 28 and have a compressive force (left in the figure) against the sleeves 48a, 48. Direction force).

  When the plug 24 is inserted into the socket contact 18, the sleeve 48 is supported at the base of the socket contact 18. As a result, the sleeve 48 is completely pushed into the plug housing 28 through the insertion process. As soon as the sleeve 48 reaches a predetermined final position, the insertion of the plug 24 into the socket contact 18 is detected by the detection unit 38 and an actuation signal is transmitted to the control unit 40. Based on this actuation signal, the control unit 40 can initiate energy transmission.

  When the plug 24 is withdrawn from the socket contact 18, the sleeve 48 is pushed out of the plug housing 28 again by a further spring element 52. If the sleeve 48 exceeds a predetermined section, that is, a predetermined threshold value related to the movement during this movement, the cancellation of the plug-in connection is detected by the detection unit 38 and a stop signal is generated. , Transmitted to the control unit 40 to stop energy transmission.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the movement of the connection pin 30 relative to the socket contact 18 is detected using the sleeve 48. A stop signal / actuation signal is generated in accordance with the detected movement of the connection pin 30.

  Although preferred embodiments of the plug 24 according to the present invention and the energy transmission configuration 22 according to the present invention have been shown, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. I want you to understand.

  For example, the detection unit 38 may only provide a force measurement signal or a movement signal that is evaluated in the control unit 40 by comparison with a predetermined threshold. Thereby, the cancellation / establishment of the plug-in connection is detected in the control unit 40, and as a result, the start / stop of energy transmission is started.

  Furthermore, it is possible to combine several different embodiments of the detection unit 38, which increases the reliability of the detection for the cancellation / establishment of the plug-in connection.

  Furthermore, the plug 24 according to the present invention or the energy transmission configuration 22 according to the present invention is used not only for a charging cable of an electric vehicle / plug-in hybrid vehicle but also for any electric device such as a home appliance or an electric tool. Is possible. It is particularly advantageous to use the electrical plug according to the invention in any electrical device with high power consumption.

Claims (14)

A connection unit (36) that can be coupled to a transmission line (26) for transmission of electrical energy;
At least one electrical connection pin (30) having a plug (32) and a coupling (34), wherein the coupling (34) is electrically coupled to the connection unit (36) and the plug The part (32) establishes a releasable plug-in connection with the assigned socket contact (18) to electrically couple the electrical connection pin (30) and the socket contact (18). Said at least one electrical connection pin (30) configured as follows:
Detecting the traction force applied to the electrical connection pin (30) and / or the movement of the electrical connection pin (30) relative to the socket contact (18) and interrupting the transmission of the electrical energy; A detection unit (38) configured to provide a stop signal of
I have a,
The detection unit (38) has a sliding mechanism (48) that can slide based on the movement of the electrical connection pin (30),
The detection unit (38) is configured to provide the stop signal when the sliding mechanism (48) slides relative to an initial position by a threshold value related to the movement;
The detection unit (38) has yet another spring element (52),
The further further spring element (52) is a force against the sliding mechanism (48) to slide the sliding mechanism (48) in response to the movement of the electrical connection pin (30). An electrical plug (24) configured to add   Electricity according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit (38) is arranged to provide the stop signal when the traction force exceeds a threshold for force and / or the movement exceeds a threshold for movement. plug.   The electrical plug according to claim 2, wherein the threshold is set such that the plug-in connection with the assigned socket contact (18) remains at least until the threshold is reached. The detection unit (38) has a force measuring element (42),
The force measuring element (42) is mechanically coupled to the electrical connection pin (30), and the electrical connection pin (30) and the socket contact (18) when the plug-in connection is canceled. The electrical plug according to claim 1, wherein the electrical plug is configured to detect the traction force based on a force between. The force measuring element (42) is configured to detect a compressive force between the electrical connection pin (30) and the socket contact (18) when the plug-in connection is established;
The electric plug according to claim 4, wherein the threshold value relating to the force is a value of the compressive force detected when the plug-in connection is established. The detection unit (38) has a slidable element (28 ′),
The slidable element (28 ′) is held in an initial position by preload and is movable from the initial position when the traction force exceeds the preload;
The electric plug according to claim 1, wherein the preload is a threshold value related to the force.   The electrical plug according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit (38) comprises a spring element (46) for providing the preload. The detection unit (38) is configured the when the initial position of the sliding mechanism (48) is set so as to provide an actuation signal for initiating the transmission of the electrical energy, according to claim 1 Electrical plug of any one of -7 . The detection unit (38) is configured to provide an actuation signal for initiating the transmission of the stop signal and / or the electrical energy, the control unit for controlling the transmission of the electric energy (40), wherein Item 10. The electrical plug according to any one of Items 1 to 8 . A connection unit (36) that can be coupled to a transmission line (26) for transmission of electrical energy;
At least one electrical connection pin (30) having a plug (32) and a coupling (34), wherein the coupling (34) is electrically coupled to the connection unit (36) and the plug The part (32) establishes a releasable plug-in connection with the assigned socket contact (18) to electrically couple the electrical connection pin (30) and the socket contact (18). Said at least one electrical connection pin (30) configured as follows:
Detecting the traction force applied to the electrical connection pin (30) and / or the movement of the electrical connection pin (30) relative to the socket contact (18) and interrupting the transmission of the electrical energy; A detection unit (38) configured to provide a stop signal of
Have
The detection unit (38) has a sliding mechanism (48) that can slide based on the movement of the electrical connection pin (30),
The detection unit (38) is configured to provide the stop signal when the sliding mechanism (48) slides relative to an initial position by a threshold value related to the movement;
It said sliding mechanism (48) includes a sleeve disposed on the electrical connection pin (30) and coaxial, electrical plugs. The detection unit (38) is configured the when the initial position of the sliding mechanism (48) is set so as to provide an actuation signal for initiating the transmission of the electrical energy, according to claim 10 Electrical plug as described in. The detection unit (38) is configured to provide an actuation signal for initiating the transmission of the stop signal and / or the electrical energy, the control unit for controlling the transmission of the electric energy (40), wherein Item 12. The electrical plug according to Item 10 or 11 . An electrical plug (24) according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A transmission line (26) electrically coupled to the connection unit (36) of the electrical plug (24);
Transmission of electrical energy via the transmission line (26) electrically coupled to the detection unit (38) of the electrical plug (24) and based on a stop signal and / or activation signal of the detection unit (38) A control unit (40) configured to control
An energy transmission configuration (22) comprising: The power transmission line (26) is further coupled with a traction battery (12) of an electrically drivable vehicle (10),
The energy transmission arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the control unit (40) is arranged to interrupt the charging process of the traction battery (12) based on the stop signal.

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